Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Spain’s recent changes to its travel regulations have created significant waves in the tourism industry, especially concerning British visitors. The new requirements, which were enforced as of December 2, 2024, demand comprehensive personal data from tourists, including sensitive information such as contact numbers, home addresses, and even banking details. This shift has raised concerns about privacy invasion, with many worried that these measures might drive British travelers to opt for alternative destinations.
While some argue that Spain’s popularity will endure despite the new rules, others suggest that the potential for frustration and inconvenience might redirect tourism to rival hotspots like Greece, Portugal, and Italy. The New Travel Rules: An Invasion of Privacy? The revised travel rules, often referred to as “Big Brother” legislation, are now in full effect in Spain. They mandate that accommodations, car rental companies, and other travel-related businesses collect highly personal data from visitors.
This includes not only basic information like passport details but also more intrusive data such as the travelers’ banking information, residential address, and the nature of their relationships with travel companions. For many British tourists, this has been seen as an unnecessary and unsettling breach of privacy. Brenda Beltran, a content manager at Holafly, expressed concerns about the new regulations in an interview with The Exp.